Rocket.



T. G. HITT.

ROCKET. APPLIoATIoN FILED JUNE 11| 1909.

957,210. Patented May 10, 1910.

Fig. l.

`devices called rockets.

. upon the THOMAS GABRIEL HITT, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ROCKET.

Specioation of Letters Patent.

Application led `Tune 11, 1909. Serial No. 501,656.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it .known that I, THOMAS citizen of the United States, Seattle, in the county of King and State of Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rockets, of which the following is ay specication.

This invention relates to the pyrotechnic Its object is to adapt a rocket to carry up into the sky and to spread broadcast, stars, parachutes and other devices for display or for signaling; to produce two explosions with loud reports; to dispose of the guiding. stick with safety, and to utilize the falling stick as an added means for display.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts forming a rocket hereinafter more fully described and particularly set forth in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 represents in central longitudinal section a rocket with a portion of its guiding stick, according to my invention.

ig. 2 shows a transverse Isection ofthe same at line of Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents a portion of the guiding stick with fireworks attached.

Numeral 3 represents the shell or body of the rocket; 4 a centrally perforated plug of clay; -5 the propelling charge of powder having an open bore 7, 1n which a quick match 8, is lixed,.and 9 the guiding stick.

G. I-IITT, a

Thus far the description refers to what is common and well known.

A pluglO, of quick-burning composition, such as meal powder, is to be rammed hard propelling charge 5, and it is preferably reduced in thickness at the center b forming an indentation 11, in order that 1t may burn through there rst and light the charge 12, at the center. This charge 12, is high gunpowder illing the upper-portion of the main shell 3, up to a plug 13, which is of woodv or similarly strong material and is glued or otherwise firmly secured to the shell. An extension shell 14, forms ahead abovethe rocket body 3, to carry stars 15, or parachutes, or other pyrotechnic devices for spectacular display or for signaling purposes, and powder 16,'for suddenly spreading them 1n the sky. A quick-match 18, passes by the plug 10, and charge 12, and communicates etween the top of the proresiding at at the rear so forcibly as to y explosive powder-usually strong,

16. A cap or plug 19, closes the head" of the rocket 1n any usual manner. In common rockets of this class there is no quick-burning plug l0, and no exploding charge 12, but 1n place thereof is a clay plug centrally perforated and a quick-matchV passing through to communicate between 'the propelling charge 5, and the spreading charge 16.

Fireworks 20, may be attached to the stick 9, to be lighted by a fuse 21, whose combustible end 22, is located above the path of the rocket-propelling to the powder 12, where it will be ignited when that charge explodes. Theseflireworks 20, and their fuse 21, are protected by their discharge and near Patented May 1o, 191e.

' pelling charge 5, and the spreading charge closed construction from being ignited below the end of the fuse.

i In operation the quick-match 8, is to be lighted tofset the powder 5, to burnin on its whole surface within the bore 7. his being conned by the ring-shaped plug 4, the gas acquires great pressure and pours out drive the rocket up intoV the sky with the flare and roar of a rushing meteor.' When the propellin chargel 5, burns out the limit of upward ight is reached, the quick-match 18, is lighted-and communicating with the powder 16, that char e bursts the light shell 14, spreading broadcast the stars 15, or whatever is thus to be fired for display or for signaling. N ow the quick-burning plug 10, having been lighted by the driving charge, has expanded in the shell, and, driving out at the rear it gives the rocket a little forward impulse just when it is in a horizontal position. at the zenith of its flight. At the same moment it ignites the, charge 12, which explodes, reducing the shell and the clay of the plug to dust, and sets the stick to spinning around its own longitudinal `axis with great velocity. This has the gyroscopic effect of maintaining the stick 1n a horizontal position while falling, and retarding its normal' descent to the earth. The spinning motion of the stick is due to its receiving the force of the explosion a. little to one side of its central line. In binding a cylindrical shell along the Hat `side of the stick it is nearly impossible to secure it perfectly central. If, in the rapid handling of manufacture, it were possible to locate the shell or body exactly central on the width of the stick, my instructions are to avoid so doing, for the purpose question. This does not require any unusual construction, because it would be very difficult to mount the stick on the shell so perfeqtly central that it would not be set to 4spinning by the force of the bursting charge. But, as the force of the driving charge is gradually expended, the rocket turns toward the apex of its parabolic curve of Hight, and it reaches its horizontal line when the propelling charge burns out and sets Hre to the quick burning plug 10; thatburning plug propels the rocket in this horizontal direction until after the charge 16, spreads the display works 15; and the exploding charge 12, is ignited at the indenture 11, while the plug 10, is still propelling with its full force. Vere it not for this bursting charge relieving the stick of the heavy shell the stick with the shell attached, would continue its course like an arrow and come down heavy end foremost, to the great danger of 'anything below. Heavy sticks carried high by large display rockets in the usual manner, come down with suiiicient force to kill men or animals, or even to penetrate the roof of a house. But the sticks of similar rockets using my timed bursting charge, invariably come down sailing horizontally and so slowly that they may be safely caught by hand. The fireworks 20, rotating rapidly with the spinning and slowly descending stick, are susceptible of many designs to produce unique effects. The bursting char e acting on the expanded gas of the quie burning plug 10, and coming as a twin to the explosion of the display spreading charge, gives a detonation truly startling. This bursting charge timed by the quickburning plug will have the same eHect on the stick of a rocket that does not carry display fireworks in its head.

By means of this invention rockets of unlimited size may use guiding sticks of any required weight with safety. The loudest bomb detonations kand `most brilliant sky displays may be produced Without the dangers of the bomb mortar, and the excitin road of' the rockets meteoric rush may stil be retained, and ever-new designs may be illustrated with the spinning stick.

Having thus tion, what I believe to be new and desire to secure by Letters Patent' isset forth in the following claims.

1. In a rocket, a body; a propelling charge therein; a guidin stick. attached thereto; a plug formed o quick-burning powder tamped upon the ropelling charge; a bursting char e locat over the plug of powder; a plug o strong material rigid y secured in the shell above the bursting charge; a shell head extending above the lug of strong material; material for disp ay mixed with powder for spreading it and located in the shell head; a closing cap, and a quick-match fully described my invencommunicating pastthe bursting charge, between the said propelling charge and the powder for spreading the display material.

2. In a rocket, a shell having in its lower portion a propelling charge and in its head a display and distributing charge; a guiding stick secured to the shell; a bursting charge located between the propelling charge and the charge in the head and separated from the latter charge plug; a plug of quick-burning powder located between the propelling charge and the bursting charge, and a quick-match communicating between the propelling charge and the charge in the head. f

3. In a rocket, a body; a propelling charge therein; a guiding stick by a firmly fixed attached to the body; a plug of quick-burning powder on top of the propelling charge; a bursting charge on top of the said plug, and a plug of strong material rigidly secured iii the body over the bursting charge.

4. In a rocket, a shell; a guiding stick secured thereto; fireworks attached to ther I stick; a propelling charge and a bursting charge in the shell, and a quick-burning plug located between these two charges, whereby the rocket, in turning after the propelling 'charge in a diHerent direction from its course of ascension.

5. In a rocket, va body; a guiding stick therefor; fireworks secured on the stick, and means for propelling the body, means for burstin it atits highest point of flight, and means or lighting the fireworks on the stick when at that highest point.

6. In a rocket, a shell; aguidingstick therefor; a propellin charge; a bursting charge, and a quickurning plug'lo'cated between these charges; the said plug having an indentation in it whereby fire will be communicated to the bursting charge the force of the quick-burning plug is expended. v

7. In a rocket, a body; a guiding stick therefor; a propelling charge; a bursting charge; fireworks located upon the stick; means for igniting the said fireworks by the bursting charge, and means for protecting the said fireworks from ignition by the propelling charge.

8. In a rocket, a body and means for propelling it upward; means for guiding its Hight; means for propelling 1t horizontally at the zenith of its Hight, and means for exploding the shell while it is horizontal.

In testimony whereof I aHix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses l A. H. ILIEPLER,y M. N nWELL.

burns out, is propelledbefore 

